Merck & Co. (MRK) vs Novartis (NOVN)
Merck & Co. (MRK) and Novartis (NOVN) side by side: both in Healthcare, listed on New York Stock Exchange and SIX Swiss Exchange. Merck & Co. is the larger of the two by approximate market capitalization (about 1.1×).
| Field | Merck & Co. | Novartis |
|---|---|---|
| Legal name | Merck & Co., Inc. | Novartis AG |
| Ticker | MRK | NOVN |
| Exchange | New York Stock Exchange XNYS | SIX Swiss Exchange XSWX |
| Jurisdiction | United States | Switzerland |
| Sector | Healthcare | Healthcare |
| Industry | Pharmaceuticals | Pharmaceuticals |
| Market cap ≈ | $250bn | $230bn |
| Founded | 1891 | 1996 |
| Reporting currency | USD | CHF |
| LEI | 4YV9Y5M8S0BRK1RP0397 | 5493007HIVTX6SY6XD66 |
| ISIN | US58933Y1055 | CH0012005267 |
| FIGI | BBG001S5TC52 | BBG001SD31N7 |
| Index membership | S&P 500 | — |
| Held by (covered funds) | — | — |
Merck & Co.
US pharmaceutical major (known as MSD outside North America) whose cancer immunotherapy Keytruda is among the world's best-selling drugs; also strong in vaccines and animal health.
Novartis
Basel-based pharmaceutical company created by the 1996 merger of Ciba-Geigy and Sandoz, now a pure-play innovative-medicines business after spinning off Alcon and Sandoz. Key franchises include cardiovascular, oncology and immunology drugs.
Approximate reference values (seed-0.6 · 2026-08-29) — not real-time, not investment advice. Both sides as data: /api/v1/companies/merck · /api/v1/companies/novartis